Across Selma, thousands of trash cans are filled with pieces of paper and plastic bottles. Paper and plastic are also common inhabitants of our city streets.

Litter is obviously a problem, but so is placing paper and plastic in with the rest of the trash.

Paper and plastic are easily recycled and Selma already has a solution.

Part of the problem is education. Selma residents may not know that the city has recycling bins in multiple locations across the city.

But with only a limited number of locations, it’s hard for a newcomer to know the city has a recycling program. Selma should expand the number of recycling bins available, make them readily accessible and easy to spot.

The current bin locations are convenient for a select few. If the city placed at least one container in every ward, perhaps more Selma residents would participate.

Of course, with more bins comes an additional responsibility to make sure they are adequately maintained, which means no overflowing bins and no trash lying around. It’s impossible to justify an increased recycling program if the city cannot adequately run it.

Some benefits of increasing recycling program offerings are obvious, but others may be more difficult to spot.

The city only has a limited amount of space in its landfill. By allowing paper and plastic to pile up, it leaves less space for the rest of the trash that fills the green containers around the city.

A new landfill isn’t free and we can’t just dump trash in a random lot, but purchasing additional recycling containers and ensuring adequate maintence requires a few thousand dollars per year. A new landfill would cost significantly more.

By investing in additional recycling options, the city is investing in its future in more than one way — preserving its landfill for future years and ensuring city streets aren’t cluttered with trash.